European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
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Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Jun 1996
Clinical spectrum of ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus.
The incidence of tracheal colonization and its association with ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) was studied prospectively in 530 consecutively admitted mechanically ventilated patients in a general intensive care unit. Furthermore, the clinical spectrum, outcome, and microbiological results of 27 cases of staphylococcal ventilator-associated pneumonia (SVAP) were examined. Ventilator-associated pneumonia was diagnosed by protected specimen brush and/or bronchoalveolar lavage. ⋯ Moreover, patients with a hospital stay of < 48 h before admission to the ICU had a higher incidence of SVAP as compared to those with a longer hospital stay before ICU admission (7% vs. 2%, p < 0.01). Crude infection-related mortality was 26%. Preceding colonization with MSSA in the trachea appears to be an important risk factor for the development of SVAP, and patients with a short duration of hospitalization before intensive care unit admission have the highest incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by MSSA.